Conveyer



Jan. 10,1933. M. J. ANDERSON GLONVEYEH Filed Dec. 14. 1929'- 3 Sheets-Sheath 2 [711 076 02 mew/v [ANDERSON (2M FM mm Jan. 10, 1933- J, ANDERSON 1,893,574

CONVEYER Filed Dec. 14. 1929 s Sheets-Sheet s [n vendor MAET/N IANDE6ON ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 10, 1 933 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MARTIN J. ANDERSON, OF ELLWOOD CITY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO MATHEWS CONVEYER COMPANY, OF ELLWOOD CITY, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA CONV'E-YER Application filed December 14, 1929. Serial No. 414,044.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in conveyer roller axles, and an object is to provide means for securing the axle to its supporting rails to prevent relative longitudinal and rotary movements thereof.

A further object is to provide a conveyer including spaced-apart supports, an axle mounted thereon and locked against rotation, sleeves mounted on'the axle, a roller supported on said sleeves, between said supports, means preventing relative rotation of the sleeves upon the axle, and means for normally locking the axle against longitudinal movement, but capable of permitting relative endwise movement thereof, whereby the axle may be disengaged from said supports and said bearing sleeves to permit removal of the roller from between said supports.

A further object is to provide means integrally formed with the axle adapted to interlock with a fixed member to prevent relative rotation of the axle, and at the same time, permitting the axle to be removed from its supporting means without disturbing the latter.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but

it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view, showing a conveyer roller mounted upon its supporting axle and the means provided for preventing relative rotation of the axle;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of one end of the axle showing the means provided thereon for looking it against relative rotation;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of one of the side rails and the notch or key-way provided in the aperture in.

which one end of the shaft is supported, adapted to receive the key member or tongue shown in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a conveyer roller mounted upon its supporting axle and the means provided for locking the axle against longitudinal and rotary movements with respect to its supporting means Figure 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view on the line 7'7 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a View partially in section showing a roller mounted upon an axle having one end provided with means adapted to interlock with one of the side rails and with the adjacent bearing sleeve or cone, to prevent relative rotation of the axle and said cone, and showing a detachable key member at the opposite end of the axle adapted for interlocking engagement with the other side rail and bearing cone;

Figure 9 is a plan view of the axle illustrated in Figure 8, showing the detachable key member positioned thereon;

Figure 10 is an elevational view showing one of the bearing cones;

Figure 11 is an end view of Figure 8;

Figure 12 is a view showing a roller axle provided at one end with a head and a tongue or key mcnlber adapted for interlocking engagement with the adjacent conveyer side rail;

Figure 13 is a detail sectional View on the line 13-13 of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 12 but showing an axle of hexagonal cross-section, having lugs provided atone end thereof to prevent longitudinal movement in one direction;

Figure 15 is an end view of Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a View similar to Figure 14, but showing an axle of cylindrical cross section provided with a key member and lugs similar to those shown at the left hand side of Figure 1, the bearing cones being'locked against rotation by means of projections provided on the inner surfaces of the conveyer side rails; Figure 17 is an end view of Figure 16; Figure 18 is a detail view showing one end of a roller and the means provided for supporting the roller axle in the conveyer side rails and locking it thereto;

Figure 19 is an end view of Figure 18; and Figure 20 is a view showing one of the bearing cones removed from the axle.

In the embodiment of the invention dis-' the roller by means of an annular cup-shaped member 11, suitably secured in the end of the roller as, for example, by contracting the Wall thereof, as shown.

The means for preventing relative rotation of the axle 3 in the side rails 4 and 5, is shown in Figures 1 2, and 3, .and consists of a keymember or tongue 12, preferably integrally formed with the axle 3 and adapted to be received in a correspondingly shaped notch 13, provided in the wall of the aperture 14, whereby the end portion 15 of the axle 3 is supported in the side rail 4. Abutment lugs 16 are formed adjacent to the key member 12, preferably on opposlte sides of the axle, and are adapted to engage the adjacent surface of the side rail 4, as shown in Figure 1, to prevent longitudinal movement of the axle in one direction.

The opposite end 17 of the axle 3 is supported in a suitable aperture provlded 1n the side rail 5 and projects beyond the outer surface of said rail a distance sufficient to per mit the insertion of a cotter pin 18 therethrough, as shown.

In the construction shown in Figure 1, but one cotter pin is necessary to secure the shaft in place in the side rails 4 and 5. By removing this cotter pin, the axle may be withdrawn from the side rails 4 and 5 and the cones 7 of the roller hearings, to permit repairs to be made to the roller or a new one substituted therefor. The bearing cones 7 may be bored to a-diameter to snugly fit the axle 3, so that they will be prevented from relatively rotating thereon by reason of their frictional engagement therewith.

Figures '5, 6, and 7 show'another form wherein the axle 19 is supported in suitable apertures 21 and 22 provided in theside rails 4 and 5, respectively, as shown in Figure 1. A key member 23 is provided at one end of the axle 19 and is preferably integrally formed therewith, as best shown in Figure 6. This key member is adapted to be received in a correspondingly shaped notch 24 provided in the wall of the aperture 21 and thus prevents relative rotation of the axle with respect to the side rails.

The roller 25 is shown supported upon the axle 19 by suitable anti-friction bearings 26, each including an inner ball race having one end projecting beyond the end of the roller 25, as shown. An aperture is provided in the projecting end portion of each ball race or cone 27 adapted to receive a cotter pin 28. These cotter pins pass throughalined apertures rovided, in the cones 27 and the axle 19, as est shown in Figure 7. In the form here shown, the axle 19 is locked against rota tion by means of the key member 23, and is locked against longitudinal movement by means of the cotter pins 28, which secure the ball races or cones 27 to the axle.

Figures 8 to 11, inclusive, illustrate another form wherein one end of the axle 29 is provided with a key member 31 and abutment lugs 32, similar to those shown on the axle illustrated in Figure 1. The key member 31 in the form shown in Figure 8, differs from the key member 12 shown in Figure 1, in that it extends inwardly beyond the inner face or surface of the side rail 4 and is received in a notch 33 provided in the adjacent end of a cone 34 of an anti-friction bearing 35, supporting one end of the roller 36. The key member 31 is received in a notch 37 provided in the wall of the aperture 38 in which the end portion 39 of the axle is supported.

The 0 posite end portion 41 of the axle 29 is cylin rical in cross-section and projects beyond the outer face of the side rail 5. An aperture 42 is provided in the axle adapted to receive a cotter pin 43 which also passes through an aperture provided in a key plate 44 provided with a tongue 45, as shown in Figure 9. This tongue is adapted to be re ceived in a notch 46 similar to the notch 37 provided in the side rail 4, and the inner end of the tongue 45 extends into a notch 47 pro- Vided in the bearing cone 48, thereby locking it against relative rotation.

In the form shown in Figure 8, the axle is locked against relative rotation by means of the key member 31 and tongue 45 of the key place 44, and the bearing cones 34 and 48 are locked against rotation because of their interlocking engagement with the key members 31 and 45. The cotter pin 43 cooperates with the abutment lugs 32 to prevent longitudinal movement of the axle. The axle may readily be removed from the side rails 4 and 5 by 4 simply removing the cotter pin 43, whereupon the key plate 44 may be removed and the axle withdrawn from its supporting apertures provided in'the side rails 4 and 5.. Figures 12 and 13 illustrate another form wherein the axle 49 is supported in apertures 51. and 52 provided in the side rails 4 and 5, respectively. One end of the axle has a head 53 formedthereon adapted to abut against the outer surface of the side rail 4 to prevent longitudinal movement of the axle in one direction. A key member 54 is shown integrally formed with the axle and is received in a notch 55*provided in the wall of the aperture 51, to prevent relative rotation of the axle., The opposite end 50 of the axle 49 projects beyond the outer surface of the side rail 5 and has .an aperture therein adapted to receive a cotter pin 56 which cooperates with the head 53 to lock the axle against longitudinal movement. The key member 54 functions to prevent relative rotation ofthe axle,- Like the form shown in Figure 8, when the cotter pin 56 is removed from the axle 49, the latter may readily be removed from the side rails 4 and 5 and the bearings, provided of course, that thebearings will permit the axle to be removed therefrom.

Figures 14 and 15 show still another form wherein an axle 57 of hexag0nal=cross-section is employed. This axle is supportedin correspondingly shaped apertures 58 and 59 provided in the side rails 4 and 5, respectively, as shown. The end portion 61 of the shaft is provided with abutment lugs 62 adapted to engage the outer surface of the side rail 4. The opposite end 63 of the axle projects through the side rail 5 and is adapted ,to receive a cotter pin 64. 1 In the form'here shown, the axle is locked against rotation by reason of its hexagonal cross-section, and

in the end portion 65 of the axle 66 is provided with abutment lugs 67 and a key member 68, the latter being adapted to be received in a notch 69 provided in the wall of the aperture 71, in which the end portion of the axle is supported. The opposite end portion 72 of the axle is supported in a suitable aperture 73 provided in the side rail 5'. The axle extends beyond the rail 5, as shown, and is adapted to receive a cotter pin 74 in a manner similar to that shown and described with reference to previous figu'res'.

In the form-shown in Figure 16, the bearing cones or sleeves 75 are locked against relative rotation upon the axle 66 by means of projections 76 provided .upon the inner faces of the side rails 4 and 5, and which projections are adapted to be received in notches 77 provided in the bearing cones 75, as shown.

Figures 18, 19, 'and 20 illustrate a -form wherein, the axle 7 8 does not directly engage the side rails 4 and 5 as in the previous figures. In the form here shown, the end portions of ,the axle 78 are supported in sockets 79 provided in the bearing sleeves or cone 81 of the bearings 82 which support the roller 83 upon the axle. Each bearing sleeve 81 is provided with oppositely disposed flattened faces 84 adapted to engage the opposed side walls 85 of the open ended slots 86, provided in the side rails 4 and 5, as best shown in Figure 19. The bearing sleeves 81 may be secured to the side rails 4 and 5 by means of suitable locking bars 87, each apertured to receive the end portions of the bearing sleeves and provided with suitable means for securing them to their respective side rails.

In the form shown in Figure 18, the axle 78 is locked against longitudinal movement by reason of the closed ends of the bearing sleeves 81, and the bearing sleeves are locked against relative rotation because of the flattened faces 84 engaging the correspondingly shaped faces 85 of the slots 86. If necessary, a cotter pin may be inserted through one of the sleeves and one end of the axle to posi- -tively lock the axle against relative rotation with respect to the bearing sleeves.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a conveyer, an axle, supporting rails therefor having apertures therein adapted to receive said axle, a bearing sleeve mounted on said axle adapted to support a rotatable .member, an integral key member on said axle projecting beyond the periphery thereof and adapted to be received in a notch provided in a wall of one of said apertures, one end of said key member extending beyond the surface of the rail in which it is mounted and received in a notch provided in one end of said bearing sleeve, said key member functioning to lock the axle and said .bearing sleeve against relative rotation, and means for preventing longitudinal movement of the axle.

2. In a conveyer, an axle, supporting rails therefor having apertures therein adapted to receive said axle, a bearing sleeve mounted on said axle adapted to support a rotatable member, an integral key member on said axle projecting beyond the periphery thereof and adapted to be received in a notch provided in a wall of one of said apertures, one endof said key member extending beyond the surface of the. rail in which it is mounted and received in a notch provided in one end of said bearing sleeve, said key member functioning to lock the axle and said bearing sleeve against relative rotation, and an abutment on said axle adapted to engage a surface of one of said rails to prevent longitudinal movement of the axle. i

3. A conveyer including oppositely disposed supports each formed with an opening to receive an axle, the inner wall of at least one of said openings being formed with a notch to receive a key member integral with said axle at one end thereof to prevent rota tion of said axle, said key member projecting beyond the periphery of said axle, an abutment member integral with said axle at said end and positioned to engage the outer face of one of said supports, and means on the other end of said axle cooperating with said abutment member to prevent axial movement of said axle, said other end of said a'xle being of cylindrical form.

4. A conveyer comprising oppositely disposed supports each formed with an opening to receive an axle, at least one of said openings having its inner wall formed with a notch, an axle having at one end a key member adapted to seat in said notch and an abutment member adapted to engage the outer face of one of said supports, the other end of said axle being cylindrical and provided with means cooperating with said abutment member to prevent axial movement of said axle, and a) load-carrying cylindrical member mounted for rotation about the axis of said axle while said axle is locked against rotation.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of December 1929.

MARTIN J. ANDERSON. 

